Hopkins Again In Race Two

By Cycle News Staff | 9/11/2011 10:05 AM

Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki's John Hopkins did it again today, the Californian winning for a second time at Donington Park in the first two races of the Showdown and taking the championship points lead in the process.With things going according to plan for Hopper, it was the opposite for championship rivals Shane Byrne and Michael Laverty with the two coming together in the first corner of the race. Both ended up in the gravel, but both rejoined with Byrne climbing all the way up to eighth; Laverty, meanwhile, was 14th.But this one was all about Hopkins as he trailed title rival Tommy Hilla and Ryuichi Kiyonari early on. He quickly took over second behind the Swan Yamaha of Hill and on the fifth lap he took the lead. From there it was all Hopkins as he maintained the lead to the finish, ultimately beating Hill by 1.9 seconds and taking the championship lead by three points as the series heads to Silverstone. Hopkins' Sansung Suzuki teammate Jon Kirkham finished third.